Rapid selector mechanism



- Feb. 15, 1938.

w. E., KIERULFF RAPID SELECTOR MECHANISM Filed April 20; 1937 INVENTOR. Mum/v. E ffitleuLrF.

ATTORNEYS.

- Patente Feb. 15, 1938- RAPID SELECTOR MECHANISM William E. Kienilfi, Cincinnati, omo, assignor m The Qroslcy Radio ()hio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 20,

111 Cla.

My invention relates to means for facilitating the more rapid tuning of a radio set for example, to a predetermined station. It is useful in connection with those telephone dial like mechanisms which may be employed in connection with the usual dialof a radio set, and which have marked upon them pre-selected stations so that when the mechanism is swung around to bring the markings adjacent a marker or against a stop, the station selected will be approximately in tune. Some of these mechanisms are quite elaborate and are "designed to bring a pro-selected station exactly in tune without further attention on the part of the operator. I shall describe my invensimple mechanism, the purpose of which is to bring a pre-selected station approximately in tune, whereupon accurate tuning may be accomplished in another manner.

The problems with which my invention concerns itself are the problems of mounting, maintaining and operating a selector dial'mechanism in an inexpensive but effective manner. Still other objects of my invention have to do with the elimination of rattling, the matter ofsmoothness of operation, and the matter of elimination of parts heretofore thought necessary in the con- "struction of simple or elaborate station selector mechanisms.

These and other objects of my invention which will be set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications ii accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now be made to the drawing,

of a knob. device which may be employed nection with my structure.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a marker device which may be employed in connection with the selector dial.

Briefly in the practice" of'my invention, I pro- Y vi'de a. main dial or plate and Ya cover glass of 55 arcuate or convex configuration. The cover glass tion however, in connection with a; relatively now set forth the aforesaid exemplary embodi-' Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the under side in con- Corporation, @incit 1937, Serial No. isaooz (or. lit-1M1) is perforated for the passage of the control shaft or concentric control shafts of the radio set, and the selector dialing mechanism is mounted in such a way that it is supported by and given a bearing upon the convex outer surface of the cover glass. I shall use this terminology in describing my invention subsequently, although it will be understood that glass need not be the substance employed, and. also that in some constructions particularly where the so-called cover glass is of opaque material and has on it the var lous scale markings, it may itself constitute the main dial of the radio set, and dial, markings on the plate to the rear of it may be eliminated. The term plate as used in the claims will be understood to include plates whether provided. with dial indicia or not.

Moreover, I shall describe my invention in connection with the simplest form of control means when: a hand knob is directly attached to the selector dialing means and where this knob is in turn attached to he shaft of a gang condenser for example. It will be understood further, that more complicated constructions do not depart from the spirit of my invention. Thus the shaft to which the aforesaid knob is attached, may be a hollow shaft and a second shaft may pass there'- through and bear a vernier tuning knobs Still more complicated arrangements wherein there is a main tuning Web, a vernier tuning knob, and a volume control, all on concentric shafts, will be within the skill of the worker in the art to construct in accordance with the teachings hereinafter contained, for the purpose of embodying in such structures the invention herein set forth.

In the particular embodiment which I shall disclose a radio cabinet is indicated generally at 4. A radio chassis 6 islocated behind a panel of the cabinet, and as shown supports a gang condenser 1, having-a. shaft 8 and a dial or plate support 9'. A dialer plate in is located in front of this support. Both the support and the dial or plate areperforated for the passage of the shaft 8. A convex cover glass It is held against the dial by any suitable means, suchfor example as turned over portions l2 of the dial support. The cover glass H is also perforated to permit the passage of the shaft 8, and in the particular embodiment, to accept the shank of a tuning knob hereinafter to be described.

I have indicated that the particular construction of the dial or plate is not a necessary limitatlon uponmy invention. An effective construction is that set forth and claimed in the co-pendannular non-reflective member I 4 may be placed over the member l0, directly beneath the dial indicia. Elsewhere however, the member ll gives,

a reflected image of the indicia above it or any additional ornamentation, indicia or the like which 'may be placed upon the cover glass it. There is an appropriate perforation it in the panel of the radio cabinet to permit visual access to the dial construction.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I have provided a. selector dialing mechanism indicated generally at it. It has an annular outer portion ll, enlarged as at it, upon one side at least, and provided with depressions t9, the shape of which will be most clearly appreciated from a consideration of Fig. 2. These depressions are preferably of such size as to receive the finger tip for the purpose of rotating the selector dialing means. They may be so shaped as to receive markers 20 which may contain the call letters of desired stations. The selector dial is preterably made of relatively thin sheet metal. At its outer edge it will usually have a down-turned stiffening flange 2i, and at its inner edge it will likewise have a down-turned flange 22. This flange however is longer than the flange 2i, and is adapted to extend from the general outer plane of the annular member il back into contact with the convex surface of the cover glass it.

The annular portion ii is connected with central boss or hub 23 by means of rib members 24, in the particular embodiment shown. Pointer members 25 are also provided lying oppositely to the rib members It. The central part of the hub 23 is died out in a non-circular shape (for instance hexagonal) as shown at 28, and at the corners of the died out figure enlarged cut-outs 21 are made. It will be seen that this leaves about the opening resilient tongues of metal.

The station selector dialing means is intended for use with a knob, a convenient form of which is shown at 20. This has a body and a shank 20. The shank will be of the same shape as the noncircular cut-out 18 in the central hub of the selector dial, but will be of slightly larger outside dimensions. Thus if thedial is made of resilient metal, and the shank 29 is pressed into the died out opening in the hub of the selector dialing means, the resilient tongues 28:: on the selector dailing means will be slightly deflected and will grip tightly the shank 20 on the knob 28. This relationship will be most clearly appreciated from a consideration of tbe cross sectional .l'igure3. In this way the knob and the selector dialin means may be conveniently fastened together in a non-rotatable manner.

In the particular embodiment shown, the knob 28 has a central bore ii to receive the shaft I. and to which it may be non-rotatably fastened by means of one or more set screws 8|.

As will be most clearly appreciated from Figures 2 and 3, the flange 22 on the selector dialing means touches and rides upon the convex surface of the cover glass ll. Likewise the center boss or hub 23 rides upon this surface and the intervening' parts, including the contacting portions of the pointer members 2! and the contacting portions of the rib members 24 are so shaped as to conform to and ride upon the surface of the cover glass,

The selector dialing means thus rides upon and is given a bearing upon the convex cover glass ii. It is supported thereby for smooth rotation and is not subject either to displacement or to rattling during the operation of the radio set. Moreover any deflective forces applied by the finger of the operator are sustained by the cover glass without deflection of the selector dialing means. The device is smooth in operation while simple and inexpensive to construct. Also the annular outer part of the station selector dialing means forms an ornamental edge finishing means or bezel for the cover glass ii, so that the hole in in the radio cabinet does not need to be finished in any particular way. It is obscured and covered by the selector dialing means. The mechanism may be arranged for edgewise or indirect illumination from the usual bulb 3i.

In the operation of the device, markers for preselected stations are placed in those depressions ill which correspond (if brought adjacent a suitable marker), to approximately tuned positions for the stations in question. Thus when a rapid change of station is required, it is necessary for the operator only to place his flnger tip in the depression marked for that particular station and swing it to the mark. In many instances no mark need be provided since it will be sufllcient for the operation of the device to swing the appropriate depression to the highest point of the mechanism. This results in bringing the station in question approximately into tune, but very much more rapidly than can be accomplished by the ordinary operation of a dial mechanism. After the station has been brought approximately into tune, accurate tuning can be accomplished by manipulation of the knob 28.

MI have indicated, I have shown my device in its simplest form. Nastops have been provided; but it will be understood that the princi-- plea of my invention as expressed in the appended claims, may be embodied in much more complicated structures, and in particular in structures in which stops are provided and depressible piungersin the parts It, which are adapted to be brought into alignment with the stops for accurate tuning. Likewise other-modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a convex member, a shaft passing substantially centrally through said member, and a dialing mechanism mounted on said shaft and so shaped as to conform to the convex outer surface of said first mentioned member, whereby said first men- "tloned member forms a bearing for and gives support'to said dialing member.

2. In a device of the character described, a convex member, a shaft passing substantially centrally through said member, and a dialing mechanism mounted on said shaft and so shaped as to conform to-the convex outer surface of said first mentioned member, whereby said first mentioned member forms a bearing for and gives support to said dialing member, said dialing member comprising a hub and an lnterspaced annular member. connected with said hub by rib portions, whereby said first mentioned member is visible between said hub and said annular member.

3. In combination a selector dialing means aioasei comprising an annuiarouter member, an inner or hub member and connecting means, said annular member having an inner flange and said flange, said hub member and said connecting means having an inner configuration which is convex and is adapted to conform to and ride upon a convex supporting member of substantially the same circular area as the area of said dialing means. l

4. A station selector dialing means for a radio set comprising an annular outer member, an in-i ner hub and connecting ribs, selector indicia in connection with said outer annular member, and a control knob 'non-rotatably attached to said hub, an inner flange on said outer annular memher, and said flange, said ribs and said hub being so configured as to conform to and bear against a convex member having an area approximating the area of said selector dialing means, a

5. In a selector dialing means mechanism of sheet metal, an outer annular member, an inner hub member and connecting ribs, said innehub member having a cut-out portion of noncircuiar shape with cut-outs intermediate parts thereof so as to leave resilient tongues in the metal, and a knob having a body, and a shank of the same configuration as said cut-out'portions but of enlarged dimensions, whereby said hub may be pressed over said shank and said resilient tongues of said hub will engage the sides of said shank to provide a substantially permanent nonrotative connection between said hub, and said knob.

6. In combination a plate, a convex cover glass for said plate, tuning mechanism having a shaft passing through perforations in said plate and in said cover glass, a station selector dialing means attached to said shaft and having a concave configuration whereby said selector dialing means may ride upon and be given bearing support by said cover glass.

7. In combination a plate, a convex cover glass for said plate, tuning mechanism having a shaft passing through perforations in said plate and in said cover glass, a station selector dialing means attached to said shaft and having a concave configuration whereby said selector dialing emeans may, ride upon and be given bearing support by said cover glass, pointer means on said connection with the perforation in said cabinet,-

and a station selector dialingxmeansmounted on said shaft and having an under surface conforming to and riding upon said convex member. said dialing means having an annularproiection adapted to extend over and concealthe edges of said perforation in said cabinet.

9. In a radio set, a radio chassis having a tuning shaft, aradio cabinet having a orationtherein, a perforated convex r, through which said shaft passes and mounted in connection with the perforation in said cabinet.

and a station selector dialing means mounted on said shaft and having an under surface conforming to and riding upon said convex member.

. said dialing means having an annular projection adapted to extend over and conceal the edges .of said perforation in said cabinet, said dialing means comprising an outer annular portion having an inner flange adapted to rest upon said convex member, an inner hub resting upon said convex member and ribs connecting said hub with said outer annular member, said ribs also shaped to rest upon said convex member.

10 In a radio set, a radio chassis having a tuning shaft, a radio cabinet having a perforation therein, a perforated convex member through which said shaft passes and mounted in connection with the perforation in said cabinet. and a station selector dialing means mounted on said shaft and having an under surface conforming an inner flange adapted to rest upon said convex member, an inner hub resting upon -said convex member and ribs connecting said hubwith said outer annularrmember, said ribs also shaped to rest upon said convex member, and

- knob means non-rotatably attached to said selector dialing means and forming the means for :ggfnecting said selector dialing means to said t v a ii. In a radio set, a radio chassis having a tuning shaft, a radio cabinet having a perforation therein, a perforated convex member through which said shaft passes and mounted in connection with the perforation in said cabinet, and a station selector dialing means mounted on said shaft and having an under surface conforming to and riding upon said convex member. said dialing means having an annular projection adapted to extend over and conceal the edges of said perforation in said, cabinet. said dialing means comprising an outer annular portion having an inner flange adapted to rest upon said convex member, an inner hub resting upon said convex member and ribs connecting said hub with said outer annular member, said ribs also shaped to rest upon said convex member, knob means non-rotatably attached to said selector dialing means and forming the means for connecting said selector dialing means to said shaft, and pointer means in connection with said selector dialing means attached to said hub.

wmmm s. 

